Why Bible Teaching Is Important to You

Are you
seeking spiritual guidance and direction in your life? Do you
have serious questions about spiritual teaching and issues? This
free study provides Bible answers!

Christianity and Christian
doctrine offer the true answers to questions such as: Does God
really exist? What is the purpose and meaning of life? What is
the origin of the human race? Can we receive eternal life after
death? How can we be forgiven of our sins and receive the favor
and blessings of God?

The teaching of Jesus can lead you to a
fulfilling spiritual life and true hope for eternal life. Please
study this free lesson showing why this is so.

This material is also available in print as part of our
book on Bible Inspiration and Preservation. For more information, go to www.gospelway.com/sales/books.

Introduction:

All people everywhere at some time in their lives recognize
that they have spiritual needs. They need guidance and direction
to find hope for eternity and answers to the questions of life.

People alone cannot provide this spiritual guidance.

Many learned men do not even attempt to provide answers for
the meaning and purpose of life and other serious spiritual
questions. If they do try, they cannot prove their answers are
right or wrong, and they often contradict one another.

Jeremiah 10:23 - The way of man is not in himself; It is not
in man who walks to direct his own steps.

You need to find and study a source of spiritual direction and
guidance from someone who really knows the answers. [Isaiah 55:8,9]

The Bible claims that it teaches the true answers to these
questions.

Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to
my path.

John 17:17 - Your word is truth.

2 Timothy 3:16,17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for instruction in righteousness, that the
man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work.

Bible teaching affirms that belief in the gospel of Jesus
Christ and Christian teaching will give the spiritual direction
you need to show you the meaning and purpose of life. It claims
that you can find these answers in God's word if you will
diligently study the Scriptures.

The purpose of this free study is to urge you to consider
Bible teaching -- the gospel of Jesus Christ -- as the answer to
your need for spirituality.

Why should you spend your time and effort to understand Bible
teaching?

Consider these reasons why belief in Bible doctrine is
important to you:

Note: See the
links at the end of this article for more free studies of topics
regarding Bible doctrine, spiritual guidance, and Christian
teaching.

The Bible Tells Your Origin.

Most people wonder about the origin of the earth and mankind.
But often they are confused because they have been told we
evolved from "lower animals," which came from simpler
organisms, all the way back to some original life form.

Evolution Cannot Answer Basic Questions.

Where Did the First Life Come
From?

Evolution requires that non-living matter produced the first
life form by chance where there was no life before. But what we
see around us is that life comes only from life. This is
called the "Law of Biogenesis."

Where Did All the Different Kinds of Living Things
Come From?

Evolution says that all life forms evolved from the first life.
But human experience and the fossil record both confirm that
living things reproduce "after their own kind." The
offspring of a fish is another fish, not a snake, bird, or man.
The "missing links" - fossils of organisms halfway
between the kinds of plants or animals we have now - are all
still missing!

Why Is Man So Unique From the Animals We Are Supposed
to Have Evolved From?

Why do we appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Why do
we have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we possess
rational thought so superior to animals?

The Bible Answers Simply that Life Was Created
by God.

Acts 17:24,25,28 - God made the world and everything in it.
Life came from the living God.

Genesis 1:11,12,21-28 - The different kinds of life exist
because God created them with the power to reproduce after their
own kind (cf. Ex. 20:11; Heb. 4:4).

Genesis 1:26,27 - Man is different from the animals because we
did not evolve from animals. We were made with unique
characteristics that God possesses.

The Bible agrees with what we see around us. Surely it
deserves your serious study.

(See the links below for further information about the
Consequences of Evolution.)

The Bible Tells How Much God Cares for You.

When people think no one cares, they may become discouraged or
even think life is not worth living. Consider what the Bible says
about God's care for us.

God Cares about Our Lives.

Matthew 10:29-31 - God cares for even the least animal, so
that He knows everything that happens to it. If so, think how
much He must care about what happens to us. He knows even how
many hairs you have.

Matthew 6:25-33 - God values us more than He does birds and
flowers, yet He feeds and clothes them. Surely He will care for
us, if we will serve Him.

God Is Willing To Help in Our Lives.

James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from the Father.
Every blessing we receive shows that God cares about us.

Hebrews 13:5,6 - God will not fail nor forsake us. Men may
fail, mistreat, or disappoint us. Not God. He always remains
faithful to us, provided that we remain faithful to Him.

The Bible clearly affirms that God loves every human being (John
3:16). Surely you need to understand what the Bible says about
God's care for you.

[Matt. 7:7-11; Psa. 23; Rom. 8:28; Phi. 4:6,7.]

The Bible Tells How You Can
Become a Member of God's Family.

Most people would think it a great honor to be a child of some
important person in history. Consider then how great a blessing
it would be if you were a child of God Himself.

The Church Is God's Family.

1 Timothy 3:15 - The house (family) of God is the church. [Ephesians
2:19]

1 John 3:1,2 - God is willing to make us His children. This
indicates His love for us.

Anyone Can Be a Member of This Family.

Matthew 12:47-50 - Whosoever does the will of the Father is
Jesus' brother, sister, etc.

1 Peter 1:22,23 - We are born again (into God's family) by
obeying the truth, the word of God.

Galatians 3:26,27 - To become children of God we must believe
in Jesus enough to obey in baptism (cf. John 1:12; 3:3,5; Rom. 6:4).

How wonderful to be a child of the King of the Universe!
Surely we ought to study the Bible to understand how to receive
this great blessing.

(See the links below for further information about
the Importance of the Church.)

The Bible Offers Worthwhile Goals for Your
Life.

Surely everyone wants to understand the real purpose for life.
Why do you exist, anyway?

Many People Are Mistaken about the Purpose of Life.

Some pursue pleasure - entertainment, recreation, travel, etc.
Life has no higher purpose than "fun, fun, fun." "Wine,
women, and song." "Be a party animal." "Eat,
drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

Some pursue education. They seek to accumulate knowledge and
worldly wisdom.

There may be some wholesome activities in these areas, but is
there really no higher goal in life? Surely the benefits are
temporary and incomplete at best.

The average American has achieved these goals to a greater
degree than most people in history, yet our society is filled
with crime, suicide, mental illness, drug addiction, and
unhappiness. Are these the signs of fulfillment? There must be
something more.

The Bible Gives the Real Purpose of Life.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13,14 - Solomon experienced the
pinnacle of enjoyment in every aspect of life: wealth, pleasure,
and wisdom. Did it satisfy? It was all "vanity and vexation
of spirit" (2:11).

Then he learned the real purpose of life: "Fear God and
keep His commands" (12:13).

Matthew 6:19-24,33 - The real goal of life is to work in God's
kingdom and be right before Him. God created man for a purpose.
Life is meaningless unless we fulfill that purpose.

Each of us can fulfill the purpose for which God created us,
but first we must diligently study the Bible.

The Bible States that God Sent
His Son to Die for You.

Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost.

Most people know they have done wrong. At times we all feel a
strong sense of guilt.

Romans 3:23 - God is also concerned about the wrongs we do. In
His eyes, we have all sinned (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8,10). For our
sins, we deserve to be punished (Rom. 6:23).

Luke 19:10 - God cares about us so much that He sent His own
Son to earth to seek and save lost men.

Jesus Died in Our Place.

Romans 5:6-9 - Sinful men deserved to be punished, but because
He loves us, God sent His Son to suffer so we could escape
punishment. Jesus paid this price for all men (1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9;
John 3:16).

Every one of us needs our burden of guilt removed, but there
is no way to accomplish that except through Jesus (Acts 4:12;
John 14:6). And the Bible is the only book that can tell us how
to receive God's forgiveness. Surely this book deserves our
attention.

(See the links below for further information about Why We
Need Forgiveness.)

The Bible Tells What Happens
to People after Death.

People often wonder what comes after death. Will we be
rewarded eternally, or is death the end of our existence? The
Bible also answers these questions.

After Death Comes Judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 - It is appointed for men to die once, but after
this the judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ. [Acts 17:30,31]

Someday Jesus will return and all the dead will be raised (John
5:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:12-26). Then we will face the consequences of
our lives.

Men Will Be Rewarded Eternally.

Matthew 25:31-46 - As a result of the judgment, the wicked
will go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life
eternal.

1 Peter 1:3,4 - Those who please God will receive an
incorruptible, undefiled inheritance, reserved for us in heaven.
To receive this reward we must be "begotten" as God's
children.

How does one become a child of God? By faith, repentance,
confession, and baptism (Gal. 3:26,27; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38;
Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 6:3,4). Then one must remain faithful to make
his calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:3-11).

(See the link below for further information about Life after
Death.)

Conclusion

Surely these are questions that should concern every one of us.
The Bible claims that it is the guidebook given by God to answer
these questions.

The Bible is a book worthy of your study. We urge you to be
like the Bereans and search the Scriptures daily with a ready
mind (Acts 17:11).

Note: If you would like to study further about related Bible
topics, we have a number of other free study materials on our web
site that should interest you. Please see the links listed below.